Discuss that icebergs are found in Alaska. Only about 10 to 20 percent of icebergs stick up above the water. To demonstrate that most of an iceberg is below water, try this easy experiment. Fill a three-ounce paper cup with water and freeze. Fill a jar three-fourths full of water, add salt to the water and stir. Remove the ice gently from the paper cup by slightly warming the outside of the cup with warm water. Slowly tilt the jar and gently slide the ice into the jar. Ask students to observe the amount of ice above and below the surface of the water. Then, ask the students to draw an iceberg on poster-board and decorate it with pens, blue tissue or construction paper and glue.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the North Pole tilts toward the sun in the summer. There's a small section around the North Pole, known as the Arctic Circle, that is always in the sun and experiences 24-hour sunlight in the summer. In winter, this area experiences 24-hour darkness. Have students brainstorm about things that may be affected by these periods of total darkness and total sunlight. Examples include sleep cycles, photosynthesis, and electricity use. Ask them to choose a topic from this list and research how the dramatic differences in sunlight between summer and winter in Alaska affect their topic. Have them present their findings to the class.
Recent activity at Mt. Redoubt Volcano in Alaska has increased awareness and interest in the subject of volcanoes amongst scientists. Teach children about volcanoes by making a volcano together. Use a salt dough to sculpt a volcano around a plastic bottle. Fill the bottle about three-quarters full of a mixture of warm water and red food coloring. Add six drops of liquid dish detergent and baking soda to the bottle. Slowly pour vinegar into the bottle which will react with the water mixture, and a red foam will erupt from your volcano. The chemical reaction produces carbon dioxide, which is one of the gases that causes volcanoes to erupt. It is best to do this project outdoors.
Ask students to research and choose their favorite animals from Alaskan wildlife. Bear, elk, bison, moose, coyote, musk oxs, and eagles are all examples of animals a student may choose. Students should create a posterboard visual with information they learn about their animal. Pictures, fun facts and maps can be added to the project to increase knowledge and visual appeal. Have students give a report on their project to the class.